The pavement outside of the Laing Art Gallery know as 'The Blue Carpet'

A spokesman said: “The Blue Carpet is a piece of public art and has been a part of the city for many years.

“Any development would have to be carefully considered in terms of its pros and cons before a final decision could be taken on the carpet’s future.”

As a result, the work has once again become a topic of debate and readers have been airing their views on our Facebook site.

A number of people believe the carpet should stay.

Kirsty Lees said: “Personally I’d keep it. They’d never be able to afford to commission Heatherwick now. He’s a successful and renowned designer.

“It’s part of the cultural heritage of the city. If he’d just called it ‘the carpet’ no-one would have given a toss about the colour.”

Lee Baker added: “I like it even though it’s not as blue as it was. Heatherwick however is one of the world’s best designers and sculptors. Let’s not be so short sighted, in 10/25/50/100 years people will travel to view it.”

The pavement outside of the Laing Art Gallery know as 'The Blue Carpet'

And Henry Blake wrote: “I like it. It’s different.”

However, several readers feel it is not a great piece of art.

Chris Kemp said: “It was never that blue anyway and it has dulled further with the passage of time. I would welcome a move from the council to cut spending on it or remove it entirely, but not if it’s only going to build more student flats.”

Jenny Cree also thinks the colour is not ideal.

“It’s always been that greyish colour,” she says. “It was never bright blue like they envisioned, even when it was first installed.”

Zoe Monroe Salmon agrees. “Total waste of money. Never that blue in first place,” she said.